The Hangover director admits gambling problem while filming series

Todd Phillips, a film director who has been behind the camera for The Hangover trilogy, Old School, Due Date and more, has lifted the lid on a former gambling addiction, reports orange.co.uk.

The third instalment of The Hangover series saw the cast and crew return to Las Vegas but Phillips, who was wary of the glitz and glamour of the city, managed to stay away from the card tables.

According to contactmusic.com, the director 'knew he was in control' when away from the city's many casinos.

However, it has not been plain sailing for Phillips. Back in 2008, the director admits his gambling addiction became a huge issue when he was trying to balance the budget and keep on schedule for the first The Hangover film.

"I had a gambling problem," he revealed. "I was always in my pyjamas, downstairs gambling every night, smoking.

"All the pit bosses knew me. I was getting in fights," he added.

There are avenues for those with gambling addiction to take. For instance, many casinos allow customers to instigate a permanent ban on themselves from entering or gamblers could attend hypnotherapy courses to seek the root causes of their addiction.

On the other hand, the temptation of visiting casinos while filming will be no more as The Hangover veteran Zach Galifianakis admitted to Empire magazine there will be no more instalments of the franchise.